I've owned this bike from new for just over a year now and ride 3-5 days a week. My riding activities include commuting, weekend twisties, and occasional off-road camping.
What is the BMW F750GS good at?
Being a versatile bike, the F750GS performs well in various riding scenarios. It excels as a city and commuting bike due to its ease of operation, safety features, and excellent visibility. Like most BMWs, it offers impressive fuel economy—I usually average about 5.8 liters per 100 kilometers in suburbia and 5 liters per 100 kilometers outside. With a lighter touch on the throttle, even better figures could be achieved.
Equally good as a touring bike, the F750GS offers great comfort for two riders, ample luggage options, and impressive fuel economy. However, it may be let down by a lack of wind protection.
Surprisingly, it excels as a canyon carver, thriving in tight turns and switchbacks. While its ground clearance isn't remarkable, pushing it hard is necessary to touch down. It's a lot of fun in the twisties, and it outperforms the F850GS in this type of riding due to its lower suspension and smaller front wheel. The bike's balance is truly superb, and entering a corner feels effortless. Unlike the previous generation F700/F800, this engine is exhilarating. It sounds great, feels great, and accelerates like a firecracker.
Regarding off-road capabilities, it's worth noting that no BMW is truly a dedicated off-road bike. However, the F750GS can handle decent trails, especially compared to the F850GS with its taller suspension and off-road focus. I've personally taken the F750GS on dirt roads, fire trails, and dedicated 4WD tracks and had a blast. However, I wouldn't push it further, as it's not the ideal tool for demanding off-road terrain and is too expensive to risk damaging against rocks.
It's important to acknowledge that the F750GS would obviously be lacking on a racetrack and in heavy off-road conditions. However, for anything in between, it performs just fine.
Performance:
In terms of performance, the 77 HP output may appear modest on paper, but the bike's low-end torque delivers ample power for road riding. Certain modifications, such as installing an Akrapovic titanium pipe and a K&N air filter, can enhance the bike's performance, sound, and low-end torque. It's important to note that the engine hardware of both the F750GS and F850GS is identical, with the 750 version being detuned through software.
There are a few shops that offer ECU tunes for this bike, allowing you to unleash the same power as the F850GS from the F750GS. Initially, I thought about getting this modification right away, but to be honest, the bike is already quick enough for my needs, and I don't have any intentions of taking it to a racetrack.
Rubbatech tank pad for the 750gs, a great addition that looks like it belongs there from the factory.
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Dislikes and minor gripes.
BMW has done an excellent job with this bike, striking a balance between sophistication and raw fun. Any criticisms I have are minor and definitely not dealbreakers.
The gearbox generally performs well, but occasionally it can feel a bit notchy. First gear, in particular, often engages with a clunk, comparable only to my Harley Low Rider.
The quick shifter isn't as smooth as some others I've tried and can be a bit tricky to use effectively.
As for the buttons and TFT screen, while I still consider this combination to be the best in the industry, there is a slight lag. When you press a button, there can be a noticeable delay. However, you can queue up multiple clicks, and there are also shortcuts available through long presses. If it were a bit faster, it would be perfect.
Screen
From my observations, motorcycle screens are always a challenging aspect to get right. Honestly, I haven't ridden a bike with a screen that completely satisfied all my requirements. The stock screen on the F750GS is small and doesn't provide much benefit. Therefore, I took matters into my own hands and replaced it with the screen from the F850GS. While it does give the bike a more substantial appearance, it didn't make a significant difference in terms of wind protection, to be honest.
That being said, I have seen people mount oversized screens on these bikes, which in my opinion, look ridiculous. So I suppose you can choose to have it either way. Personally, I've been riding naked bikes for so long that I've become accustomed to the feeling of being hit by clean air.
Issues:
Very few issues. In the early stages, approximately two weeks after purchasing the F750GS, I encountered some electrical problems. The TFT dash stopped responding to button inputs and developed a flickering issue. However, after turning off the bike for an hour, the problem vanished and never reappeared.
I also experienced another issue with the bike, which was a weak idle immediately after starting. The revs would drop, and the engine would stall. This problem was directly linked to a batch of bad fuel, but it was easily resolved by draining the tank and refilling it with fresh fuel. In terms of fuel, the BMW technician informed me that the bike is tuned for 95 octane fuel, so there is no need to spend extra money on 98 octane. Interestingly, I was also told that 95 octane fuel in Sydney, Australia, is more consistent than 98 octane fuel.
Overall verdict 8/10
In conclusion, the BMW F750GS is a superb motorcycle, characterized by its high-quality construction and advanced technology, enabling it to excel in various riding situations. It strikes a fantastic balance between enjoyable riding dynamics, nimbleness, comfort, and an impressive sound, making it a versatile bike that can be appreciated in multiple scenarios.
Unlike many other bikes I've owned, which were limited to specific riding scenarios, the F750GS truly shines across different terrains and environments. Whether it's commuting, twisty roads, or off-road adventures, this bike performs exceptionally well and delivers an enjoyable riding experience wherever you take it.
7 comments
Hi Simon, thanks for the comment. the 750gs is plenty fast and I think anyone will find it plenty unless visiting racetracks or doing serious back-road racing. Also perhaps fully loaded with two heavy people plus gear you may feel the need for more grunt. With the rear resonator deleted the bike is not loud, but much deeper and more satisfying. Make the bike much more enjoyable.
Hi. Great article, thanks. I’m considering buying one of these bikes, as I think it would really work well here in Aus (where the speed enforcement renders 120+HP redundant 90% of the time). Having said that, you mentioned that there are companies that can remap this engine to the same output as the F850GS; can you tell me who that might be? Again like you I may not go ahead and do it, but it would be nice to have the option. Oh, and how loud is the bike now, since you changed the downpipes (presumably eliminating the cat)? Thanks!